first rate general. Just now the eyes are angry and tragic, and
the mouth and nostrils tense.

BURGOYNE. Major Swindon, I presume.

SWINDON. Yes. General Burgoyne, if I mistake not. (They bow to
one another ceremoniously.) I am glad to have the support of your
presence this morning. It is not particularly lively business,
hanging this poor devil of a minister.

BURGOYNE (throwing himself onto Swindon's chair). No, sir, it is
not. It is making too much of the fellow to execute him: what
more could you have done if he had been a member of the Church of
England? Martyrdom, sir, is what these people like: it is the
only way in which a man can become famous without ability.
However, you have committed us to hanging him: and the sooner he
is hanged the better.

SWINDON. We have arranged it for 12 o'clock. Nothing remains to
be done except to try him.

BURGOYNE (looking at him with suppressed anger). Nothing--except
to save our own necks, perhaps. Have you heard the news from
Springtown?

SWINDON. Nothing special. The latest reports are satisfactory.

BURGOYNE (rising in amazement). Satisfactory, sir! Satisfactory!!
(He stares at him for a moment, and then adds, with grim
intensity) I am glad you take that view of them.